It's been three months since Jonathan Giba moved into temporary housing for homeless veterans inside a hospital for former members of the US military in West Virginia. He has been waiting for medical and dental consultations, after medications he was previously prescribed left him without teeth and unable to walk. Now, with the government shut down, he is preparing to wait even longer.
He calls it 'political bs'. The US Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital where Mr Giba is staying in Martinsburg, West Virginia, is still providing medical care, but the VA stopped other programs that help veterans find jobs and transition from military life.
'Heartfelt emotions are running high. We're in limbo, and it's scary,' says Marcellus Brothers, another veteran. This sentiment echoes throughout Martinsburg, a town with a population of almost 20,000, located about 85 miles from Washington D.C. Here, federal agencies employ over 3,300 people, including at the veterans hospital and an IRS processing facility.
Tina Hissam, who works in a small business, notes that the shutdown impacts local economies tremendously. 'It hurts small businesses... federal workers may cancel services,' she states. Many are worried about not just their jobs but the subsequent economic ripple effects within the community.
As the stalemate between Republicans and Democrats drags on, more than 700,000 federal employees face unpaid leave, with uncertainty looming over many others. Historical perspectives indicate that prolonged shutdowns lead to more service cuts, setting off alarms in the affected communities.
'West Virginia has the third-highest number of federal employees per capita,' warns Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who along with her Republican peers continues to support funding proposals that align with their agenda but fail to pass with bipartisan support. As locals brace for the effects, residents share their hopes for resolution and a quick end to the political gridlock.
He calls it 'political bs'. The US Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital where Mr Giba is staying in Martinsburg, West Virginia, is still providing medical care, but the VA stopped other programs that help veterans find jobs and transition from military life.
'Heartfelt emotions are running high. We're in limbo, and it's scary,' says Marcellus Brothers, another veteran. This sentiment echoes throughout Martinsburg, a town with a population of almost 20,000, located about 85 miles from Washington D.C. Here, federal agencies employ over 3,300 people, including at the veterans hospital and an IRS processing facility.
Tina Hissam, who works in a small business, notes that the shutdown impacts local economies tremendously. 'It hurts small businesses... federal workers may cancel services,' she states. Many are worried about not just their jobs but the subsequent economic ripple effects within the community.
As the stalemate between Republicans and Democrats drags on, more than 700,000 federal employees face unpaid leave, with uncertainty looming over many others. Historical perspectives indicate that prolonged shutdowns lead to more service cuts, setting off alarms in the affected communities.
'West Virginia has the third-highest number of federal employees per capita,' warns Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who along with her Republican peers continues to support funding proposals that align with their agenda but fail to pass with bipartisan support. As locals brace for the effects, residents share their hopes for resolution and a quick end to the political gridlock.
